FUSÃO

Who’s the author? Ixta Belfrage cut her teeth as a chef in Yotam Ottolenghi’s trailblazing restaurant NOPI. She became known for her innovative spirit in the kitchen, drawing inspiration from Brazil (where her mother is from), Mexico (where she often visited her grandfather) and Italy (where she grew up). To nurture this culinary creativity, she made the move to Ottolenghi’s Test Kitchen, where she worked for five years rigorously testing and tasting recipes at least eight times before they were published. She co-authored Ottolenghi FLAVOUR, a celebration of vegetables and vegetarian cooking.

In 2022, Ixta published her first solo cookbook, MEZCLA, which means ‘fusion’ in Spanish. With its inventive combination of flavours and ingredients, her debut was a huge hit. Since then, she has continued to hone her craft, publishing her recipes on a column on the Guardian and as a contributing editor at Elle UK. Off the page, she has captured the hearts of thousands around the world with her social media presence. She is known for her joyful and relatable approach to cooking, whether it is embracing trial and error in the kitchen or travelling around the world with an open mind and palate.

What’s it about? Ixta’s second cookbook, FUSÃO, brings her signature flair to Brazilian fare, detailing the dishes she encountered during her deep dive into Brazilian cuisine. Her three-week research trip covered 8,000 kilometres across the beautiful country’s vibrant cities and lush rainforests. In her beginner-friendly recipes, Ixta recounts each dish’s history, breaking down the hyperlocal ingredients that bring out its unique flavours. She also highlights how the dish has evolved over time. True to the name of the cookbook, which means ‘fusion’ in Portuguese, she boldly presents her own twist on the dish, often borrowing techniques and flavours from other cultures and offering practical substitutions to hard-to-find, elusive ingredients.

At the heart of FUSÃO is Ixta’s engaging prose; she scatters personal anecdotes of her travels and cherished memories of her mother’s homeland throughout the cookbook, including colourful photography that beautifully portray Brazilian culture and cuisine.

Recipes we love: Moqueca fish burgers, Duck in golden tomato broth, and Papaya and chocolate cake with citrus honey glaze

Perfect for: Those looking to impress at dinner parties, as well as food enthusiasts who need recommendations for recipes to try at their next cookbook club.